Ex-CBI officer agrees to assist CVC probe against Ranjit Sinha

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The bench, also comprising Justices Kurian Joseph and A K Sikri, took on record the statement of Rohatgi and posted the matter for hearing on August 10.

On the last date of hearing, Sharma had emerged as the first choice of the Supreme Court to assist the CVC after the anti-corruption watchdog had said it did not have its own investigating arm. It had asked Rohatgi to seek his consent and also names of 4-5 other officers to assist him.

In May, the bench had held Sinha lacking in “ethical rectitude” and censured him over his private meetings with the accused in the scam, as revealed by a visitors’ logbook submitted in the court through a whistleblower. It said it was “inappropriate” for him have met the accused in the case without the presence of investigating officers.

Bengal govt’s reply sought on CBI’s plea for more manpower

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday sought a reply from the West Bengal government on a request by the CBI to lend to it state police officers for assistance in the chit fund scam cases. A bench led by Justice T S Thakur asked the counsel for the state government to seek instructions from the appropriate authority and revert on July 27.

Citing lack of manpower, the CBI has sought assistance of at least 10 Superintendents of Police (SP) from the state to efficiently probe the scam cases. One SP has at least 10 police officers working under him. The CBI, therefore, has effectively asked for more than 100 officers from the state police force.

It informed the bench on Monday that as many as 971 cases have been registered, of which 464 matters related to non-Saradha chit-fund firms. Its counsel said these cases were pending in nearly 70 courts across the state. The CBI said it wants three special courts in Kolkata to deal with them. ENS